Media Inquiries

FreeAmir

An Iranian-American detained while visiting his grandmother, held in solitary confinement, and imprisoned by Evin's walls

On August 14th 2011, Amir Hekmati went to Iran and spent two weeks with his grandmother and relatives. He was captured by Iranian Intelligence Forces on August 29th and was accused of being a CIA spy. On December 18 2011 a purported confession appeared on Iranian State television by Amir stating that he had infiltrated Iran as a CIA agent. The US Government and the Hekmati Family have denied these claims. On January 9th 2012 the Iranian Revolutionary Court sentenced Amir to death on charges that he was cooperating with the United States. He is the first American Citizen in 33 years to have been given the death sentence by an Iranian court. On March 5th, 2012 Iran’s supreme court overturned the death sentence and have ordered a retrial. The Judges had found that the verdict against Amir was “not complete.” The Hekmati family currently awaits word on the status of the retrial for their son.